The Lasting Value of a Colby Education in a Tough Job Market
97 percent of Colby’s Class of 2025 secured employment, graduate studies, or fellowships within six months of graduation
Despite a competitive, challenging job market for recent college graduates, 97 percent of Colby’s Class of 2025 secured employment, graduate studies, or fellowships within six months of graduation, according to information compiled by DavisConnects from its individualized outreach and support of Colby graduates.
Eighty percent of the Class of 2025 pursued careers in fields such as financial services, healthcare, education, law, and entrepreneurship. Another 15 percent chose to continue their studies, and 2 percent engaged in entrepreneurial endeavors, said Beth Throne, dean of DavisConnects.
“The entry-level job market continues to tighten, with artificial intelligence reshaping early-career roles and raising expectations for new graduates,” said Throne. “Despite this increased competition, the Class of 2025’s outcomes reflect the strength of their Colby education and ability to navigate workforce demands.”
DavisConnects takes a holistic approach to supporting students’ aspirations, initiating conversations with students as prospective students and continuing when they step onto campus as first-years. Throughout and beyond the first year, DavisConnects connects students to hands-on experiences such as internships, global research, and funding opportunities, preparing students for postgraduate life. Since 2017, DavisConnects has awarded $11.1 million to students to fund internships, independent studies, research, global experiences, and certification programs.
According to Throne, 92 percent of the Class of 2025 benefited from at least one high-impact career experience through DavisConnects, including internships, off-campus research opportunities, or global study, which correlates with postgraduate success.
“It’s about exploring what’s possible for students, making our advising and our resources accessible for every class year and every major. Last year, we offered 340 different programs, several Jan Plan classes, and drop-in hours so students could engage as much as they want to as they reflect upon how their coursework, internships, and global study resonate,” she said. “Access to opportunities and connections is a foundational premise of DavisConnects.”
The data show that Colby graduates are bucking national trends. The unemployment rate for recent college graduates aged 22 to 27 in the United States has risen sharply over the last few years to 5.6 percent, largely due to macroeconomic uncertainty and AI displacement. And 40 percent of those employed are working in jobs that do not require a college degree.
Student experiences
For educational studies and psychology double major Bridget Meehan ’25, DavisConnects allowed her to apply what she was learning in the classroom to real-world settings, eventually leading to a master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
“I was provided full funding to pursue a dream pediatric research internship in Boston over the summer, in addition to teaching at local Waterville preschools and serving as a mentor through Colby Cares About Kids,” she said. “Now, I work as a research assistant at Harvard’s Gaab Lab, a pediatric cognitive neuroscience lab conducting longitudinal studies on learning differences.”
Meehan knew she wanted to work with kids. “At Colby, I was very intentional about selecting my majors and concentration so that I could pursue my academic interests in education, psychology, and neuroscience. I always knew I wanted to work in a child-facing, science-informed field, even if I did not yet know the exact role,” she said.
The application process for graduate school felt intimidating, she said, adding that she felt “extremely fortunate” to have her academic advisor, Assistant Professor of Education Pei Pei Lu, who inspired and supported her. “She encouraged me to utilize DavisConnects to navigate the logistical aspects of the application process, which was a huge help,” Meehan said. “I’m so appreciative of Colby for helping me get here.”
Ella Carlson ‘25 took, in her words, a “meandering approach to science” that culminated in a prestigious Watson Fellowship this past year. Her Watson project, “Who Speaks for the Frogs?”, was funded by a one-year, $40,000 grant that supported her travel to Germany, Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico to study amphibians through cultural, economic, and scientific lenses.
The biology major and environmental studies minor plans to continue her studies when the Watson year concludes. “The greatest gift of a liberal arts education for me has been the idea that I didn’t have to choose between my zeal for literature, anthropology, and philosophy and my love of scientific study,” Carlson said. “At Colby, I learned to become much more confident in my own skills as a biologist and began to feel more drawn to spending time working with the natural world that I so love.”
Finding their unique path
At DavisConnects, in addition to one-on-one advising covering career design, resumé review, and mock interviews, students also learn about a variety of postgraduate opportunities that connect their academic and extracurricular pursuits to their future. This past academic year, these programs engaged 88 percent of the student body, Throne said.
Workshops included Designing Your Post-Colby Life, Entry-Level Opportunities in Investment Management, Know Your Worth: Understanding and Negotiating Job Offers, How to Make the Most of Your Summer Internship, and many others.
The DavisConnects team takes a design-thinking approach to career advising, helping students find their unique path. While they can chart traditional approaches to finance, law, or medicine, the beauty of a liberal arts education is that students make unexpected choices, Throne said.
“Whatever they’re interested in, students get connected to the larger Colby alumni network and to mentors all over campus. It’s our job to help bridge the gaps between what a student wants to do and how to get there. It’s not my job to tell them what to do, but to encourage them to try different experiences, have those conversations, and find the way forward.”
